PORTLAND, OR (October 24, 2007) – Data in the newly released AirAdvice State of Building Performance Report 2007 shows that more than 9 out of 10 commercial buildings fail to meet fundamental standards for acceptable comfort and energy efficiency. This and other key findings in the report suggest significant opportunities to reduce energy and operating costs as well as to improve building system performance and occupant satisfaction.

Commercial building assessments performed across North America show that:

• Most buildings suffer from two or more basic comfort or energy efficiency flaws
• Conditions that are likely to generate comfort complaints exist in over 75% of buildings surveyed
• Over-ventilation is the most common cause of excessive HVAC-related energy use

The AirAdvice State of Building Performance Report 2007 defines the current state of HVAC system performance in North America. It combines the latest industry findings with the AirAdvice Indoor Environment and Building Performance Database (IEBPD), a collection of data from over 300 customized commercial building assessments conducted since June 2006 and over 3,700 individual indoor environment analyses conducted in cooperation with over 1500 HVAC professionals since March 2004.

Overall, 96% of buildings analyzed failed to meet industry guidelines in at least one of five fundamental elements of building comfort and energy efficiency: temperatures that are too warm, too cool, fluctuate excessively, fail to match the setpoint, and evidence of over-ventilation.

'In addition to quantifying the prevalence and nature of commercial building performance issues, the AirAdvice State of Building Performance Report 2007 summarizes the significant economic costs of these issues,' says Gary Frayn, AirAdvice vice president of commercial development. 'This report delivers critical information and insight to building owners, operations and facilities managers, as well as HVAC industry professionals, such that performance issues in commercial buildings can be effectively addressed and resolved, creating both new business opportunities within the industry as well as improved performance outcomes.'

The report provides building performance professionals with information to address today's most common building performance issues: comfort complaints and occupant/employee satisfaction, high energy costs, and sustainability issues. For example, the report findings show that:

• Over 80% of buildings surveyed showed evidence of over-ventilation. Improving ventilation control offers a significant potential for energy savings, up to 40% in many cases.
• Less than half of buildings surveyed maintained temperatures within 2 F of the specified set point. One in five buildings surveyed experienced actual temperatures that were more than 5 F from the specified set point. There is a direct relationship to temperature variation and comfort complaints. Based on ASHRAE comfort models the predicted rate of dissatisfaction is as high as 30% when the temperature swings are greater than 5 F, resulting in productivity loss.
• Nearly one-quarter of buildings surveyed were found to have inefficient temperature control, with the temperature in the space significantly higher than the heating setpoint or lower than the cooling setpoint. The potential exists for energy savings of up to 10% if more precise temperature control at the specified set point could be achieved.

The report also summarizes data and insight from several industry studies, providing important information about building owners’ perspectives on energy savings, comfort and energy performance of LEED®-certified projects, and quantitative data detailing the positive impact on productivity from improved thermal comfort.

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